Frankenstein

Written in 1818, Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus tells the story of Doctor Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a sapient creature in an unorthodox scientific experiment. Mary Shelley was a Romantic who wrote this novel, often considered to be one of the first cautionary science fiction tales. 

When Mary and Percy Shelley were holidaying in the home of the poet Lord Byron in the "Year Without A Summer", the host came up with a challenge - who would write the best horror story. This is when the idea for this classic science fiction horror first began emerging in Mary Shelley's mind. She wrote a story where a curious and eccentric scientist creates life out of seemingly nothing.

Doctor Victor Frankenstein becomes enlightened about an elemental principle of life. He uses this knowledge to painstakingly create a new life form, one part at a time. After two years of work, his mission is finally accomplished. But when he ultimately faces the "monster", he is disgusted by it and flees immediately. Thus begins a thrilling chase between the creator and the created.   

The Modern Prometheus 

According to Ancient Greek mythology, Prometheus was a Titan who gifted humans with the knowledge of how to manipulate fire. With the use of this invaluable technique, humans eventually gained much more power in the natural order. The Gods, who are angered by this, decide to punish Prometheus. He is chained to a rock for all of eternity (Titans are immortal), and eaten by vultures. All of this for his corruption of the natural world.

Frankenstein tells a similar story - of a scientist who corrupts nature by creating a new life form out of inanimate matter. By the end of the book, he too gets punished for this. Hence the subtitle.

Themes

Mary Shelley was a Romantic author, and the Romantics very extremely skeptical of scientific advancements. This is evident in the final pages of the book. Scientific ambition and the pursuit of knowledge is a central theme in the novel, as well as Victor's alienation due to his knowledge and ambition. 

It is the story of a scientist who feels he has the right to go against the laws of nature. His fatal flaw or hamartia is a God Complex. 

Doctor Victor Frankenstein is responsible for the birth of the nameless "monster". Yet he abandons it instantly, never even bothering to give it a name. The creature is referred to as "devil", "fiend", "monster" and "It" throughout the story. This shows that the Doctor does not have the accountability that he should. He does not even care to give the creature a name and never empathises with his creation. He does not help his creation and is disgusted by it, which justifies the creature's anger towards him. Abandonment is the main theme of the story.

Frankenstein is a relevant book today because it explores the ethics behind humans taking the liberty to create different forms of life. Artificial Intelligence provides several ethical dilemmas, and many of these themes are considered in this novel written in the early 19th century. 

Leaving the more serious themes aside, it's a must-read for other reasons as well. It's a short book, with beautiful and enthralling writing. The chase that spans almost the entirety of the story is very gripping. Ethics, science fiction, horror, and so much more can be found in this 280-page masterpiece. 

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